Foldable chair



w. H. SMITH FOLDABLE CHAIR Sept. 21, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 30, 1952 W. H. SMITH FOLDABLE CHAIR Sept. 21, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 30, 1952 Sept. 21, 1954 w. H. SMITH 2,689,603

FOLDABLE CHAIR Filed April :50, 1952 s Sheets-Sheet :5

1N VENTUR Patented Sept. 21, 1954 FOLDABLE CHAIR Walter H. Smith, Eureka, Ill.

Application April 30, 1952, Serial No. 285,123

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a foldable, portable chair of the type which when folded may be used as a cane or walking stick, and which may be conveniently set up to provide a chair which may be used to witness sporting events, parades, etc.

One of the important features of my invention resides in a foldable chair construction which is extremely rugged and may be folded to a relatively small compass.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and following detailed description.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of my chair in set-up position.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the chair shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3' is a front elevational view of the chair in partially folded position, the fabric receptacle or housing being shown in open position.

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the chair in completely folded position.

i Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the device as shown in Fig. 4.

; Fig. 6 is a rear elevational view of the completely folded chair. I

. Fig. *Iisa top plan view of the'upper-portion of the chair, parts being broken away.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of the connection between the legs of the chair and the seat-supporting bars.

Fig. 9 is a detailed perspective view of a portion of one of the chair legs showing the stop carried by said leg.

. Fig. 10 is a front view of the leg and bar juncture looking in the direction indicated by the arrows lll-l in Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10 with the front legs and front seat support bars in folded position.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and with specific reference to Figs. 1 and 2, I indicates a combination leg and back member, the lower portion 2 of which comprises a supporting leg of the chair and the upper portion 3 of which comprises the support for the back of the chair. The upper portion of the back support 3 carries a pair of symmetrical housing pieces 4 and which are connected to the back support by spaced hinges 6 and I (Fig. 6). The housing pieces 4 and 5 are each provided with a cavity 8, which, as will be hereinafter more fully described, provides a space when said housing pieces are closed upon each other, for carrying a fabric seat 9, and also inwhich other portions of the chair are carried.

The back support 3 is provided with a slot ll through which a pin l2 extends, said pin being laterally movable along the length of the slot. At each end of pin [2 a hinge plate l3'is carried, the

plane of each plate being adjacent and parallel to opposite side edges of the back support 3. The opposite end portions of the hinge plates l 3 carry a pin I4 which extends through recesses provided in a pair of hinge blocks 16. The hinge blocks l6 are identical and each is provided with a hinge eye I! at opposite ends, each being adapted for the reception of a hinge pin [8. The hinge blocks l6 are held immovably together by means of rivets I5.

A pair of legs I9 are hingedly connected to an adjacent pair of hinge pins [8 at the lower ends of the hinge blocks 16 and a pair of seat support bars 26 are similarly connected to adjacent hinge pins I8 at the upper portions of the hinge blocks. In this fashion legs I9 may be spaced divergently away from each other, as may the bars 20, as shown best in Fig. 10, or the opposed legs may be disposed parallel and adjacent each other, as may also the bars 20, as shown best inFig. 11. In Fig. 10 the parts are shown in set up position whereas in Fig. 11 the parts are shown in folded position.

In order to limit the angular divergence of the legs l9 and bars 20 with respect to eachother, respectively, shoulders 2| are formed upon the legs and bars adjacent the hinges and by virtue of the fact that the blocks I6 are thicker than legs 19 and 20 abutting shoulders 22 are formed upon the adjacent ends of the hinge blocks I6. Hence," when the legs and bars are spread, in setting up the chair, the shoulders 2| and 22 abut thereby stabilizing the legs and bars in the position shown best in Fig. 2.

In order to prevent unintended folding of the bars 20 when the chair is set up, a pair of struts 23 are hingedly connected in slots 24 provided in the bars and at their outer ends, said struts are hinged together, as at 25 in Fig. 2, the hinge 25 being such as to prevent the struts from moving through an angle greater than with respect to each other. Similarly a pair of struts 26-26 are hingedlyconnected in slots (not shown) provided in legs I9, said struts being hingedly connected to each other at their ends in the same 3 fashion as hereinbefore described with respect to struts 23.

When the device is in set-up position the legs l9 and leg portion 2 are related to each other in tripod fashion, as are the bars 29 and back portion 3. To render this relationship of the parts fixed, a stop 21 is carried by the combination leg and back member I, said stop being of tapered construction and being disposed in a dove-tail .gro'ove provided transversely in the leg and back member I. When the device is in setup position said stop makes contact with the upper end portions of legs l9. In this fashion a relatively rigid tripod support is formed.

To carry the fabric seat 9 a pair of rods 28 are carried at the upper portions of the housing pieces 4 and 5, the upper portion "of the fabric seat 9 being looped upon said rods. The fabric seat 9 is substantially trapezoidal in shape-and .at each lower corner thereof a ring 29 is carried WhlQ-h'iS adapted to removably encircle the upper ends of the bars 29 thereby supporting the outer edge of the fabric seat.

When the housing :pieces 4 and .5 are opened a stop bracket .30 abuts against adjacent end walls of :each housing piece and limits the spread position-of said pieces with respect to each other. v.Phestop bracket 3%! may comprise a pair'of spaced resilient fingers .31 which may be employed, desired, to hold the shank of an umbrella, adding itothe comfort of the user.

To fold the .device the hinge .25 and the correspondinghinge between the links 26 are broken and legs mare moved to parallel contacting posiitionras are also .bars .20, the loops 29 previously being removed from the ends of bars =29. The :lcgs J9 and bars 20 being carried by :the hinge plates l3 are then swung about pin l2 as a pivot in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, until the legs 1-9 and :bars '25! are brought :to :a .parallel contacting relationship with the :member and then said legs and bars are slid aupwardl-y along the member .I, the pin 12 moving .laterailyto *thezupper'end-of slot H. The relationship of the :legs 1.9, bars 428, member -'i and hinge plates 13 and slot H is then as shown in Figsrii, s, .5 and :6,;particularly Fig. 5.

In Fig. 3 it wili be noted that the :bars 29 :are new positioned in contact with the member I iad iacentzthe:housingpiecess and 5. Thereafter thelfabric-seatd 1is2folded,;as=at %2 in Fig. 3, with the loops 29 disposed adjacent the upper portions Gofithe hcusing'pieces and :the fabric seat-overlying the bars .29. The housing pieces '11 and '15 may then :be moved upon hinges and =1 to close (said rhousing :piecesztherebyconfining the bars 2.9 and fabric seat '9 within the housing thusiormed.

:Eachof @the rods 28.may-extendexteriorly of .the housing ,piecesas shown best at.33 inEig. 3, and iuponioneofsaid extensions.a spring clip 34 may be carried, said-clip being U-shaped and being (adapted ior spring engagement with the other extension 33 whereby the housing pieces may be heldinplosed position. The device is then in .the ,form or" a cane or walking stick, as shown best lin Figs. 4, and'6.

The parts comprising my device are preferably constructed of aluminum, but, if desired, may be constructed of magnesium or wood or any other lightweight material having sufficient strength iior the intended purpose. In view of the =fact that the member 1, legs 19 and bars 26 sustain the major portion of the loadwhen the :device -used as a chair, these parts may be constructed oi-metal, and the housing pieces, which sustain only a minor portion of the load, may be constructed of a relatively light weight plastic material or the like.

I claim as my invention:

1. A folding chair comprising a hinge block, a pair of legs pivotally mounted upon said hinge block, a pair of seat-supporting bars pivotally mounted upon said hinge block, shoulders upon said hinge block and cooperating shoulders upon said legs and seat-supporting bar-s whi h respectively abut the shoulders on said hinge block to limit pivotal movement of said legs and bars rela. tive to said hinge block, a member pivotally connected with said hinge block, said member comprising a back portion and a leg portion, a flexible fabric seat connected adjacent an upper end of the back portion of said member, said fabric seat being removably connected to said seat supporting bars, and a stop bar carried by said member and frictionally engageable with said legs to form a ripod mnrisins s l ss an ies p rt of :said member. 7

2. A fielding chai c mp sms a hinge loe s, a pair of legs pivotally mounted upon said hinge block, a pair of seat-supporting bars pivotally mounted upon said hinge block, said legs and seatsupporting bars being swingable in the same plane, shoulders upon aid hin bloc and seap mti s sh ulders :upcn said less and eatsupporting bars which res ectively :itbilt. the shoulders on said hinge block to Jim-it pivotal movement of said legs and bars relative to said hin e block, a member pivotally connected to said hinge block, said member comprising a back portion and a :leg portion, a flexible fabric iseat connected adjacent an upper end of the :back portion of said member, said fabric seat :being *removably ;connected -.to @said seat suppq zting bars, and a stop her carried by said member and tries tionallyaengageable with said legs :to form a tripod comprising :said legszand ,the leg portion of said member.

53. A folding chair comprising a shinge block, a pair of legs pivotally mounted npon;said;hinge block, a pair *of seatesupporting bars pivotally mounted upon said hinge block, said :legs and seam-supporting bars being swingaolein thesgsame plane, shoulders :upon said "hinge block .and .conperatingishoulders upon .said legs andseat-supporting bars which respectivelyabut the shoulders on said hinge block to limitipivotal ,movementof said legs and bars relative to said :hinge .block, a member pivotally-connected .to-said hingezblock, said member comprising a back :portion andarleg portion, .said member being swingable relatively to said hinge :block in :a plane .at right-angles :to said first-mentioned plane, a iflexible fabric-seat :ccnnec'ted adjacent an upper end of the back portion of said member, said fabric seat being removably connected to said seat supporting Soars, and a stop bar carried iby said 'member and atrio- :tionallyengageable with saidlegs to form artripod comprising said legs and the leg portion of said :member.

14. A =folding chair comprising a hinge :block, a pair :of legs pivotally :mounted upon said :hinge "block, a pair of seat-supporting bars pivotally mounted'upon said hinge'blocksaidlegs andsaid seat supportingtbars rbeing swingable :in the-same :plane, meanszuponsaid:hinge. strap and .uponrsaid :legs and :bars ior limiting the divergent swing iof :said legs and bars relative to said hinge .rstrap, 5amember.p vot liyconnected t a d hi g strap :said m m er compri a back .portion and a leg por ion, a flexible fabric seatconne teda ia cent an upper end of the back portion of said member, said fabric seat being removably connected to said seat supporting bars, and a strap carried by said member and frictionally engageable with said legs to form a tripod comprising said legs and the leg portion of said member.

5. A folding chair comprising a hinge block, a pair of legs pivotally connected to said hinge block, a pair of seat-supporting bars pivotally connected to said hinge block, shoulders upon said hinge block and cooperating shoulders upon said legs and seat supporting bars which respectively abut the shoulders on said hinge block to limit pivotal movement of said legs and bars relative to said hinge block, a member having a back portion and a leg-portion, a pair of hinge plates pivotally secured to said member, means pivotally connecting said hinge plates to said hinge block, a flexible fabric seat connected adjacent an end of the back portion of said member, means removably connecting said fabric seat to said seatsupporting bars, and means interengaging said pivoted legs and the leg portion of said member to form a substantially rigid tripod comprising said pivoted legs and the leg portion of said member.

6. A folding chair comprising a hinge block, a pair of legs pivotally connected to said hinge block, a pair of seat-supporting bars pivotally connected to said hinge block, shoulders upon said hingeblock and cooperating shoulders upon said legs and seat supporting bars which respectively abut the shoulders on said hinge block to limit pivotal movement of said legs and bars relative to said hinge block, a member having a back portion and a leg portion, a pair of hinge plates, a hinge pin positioned in a slot in said member and pivotally securing said hinge plates to said member, means pivotally connecting said hinge plates to said hinge block, a flexible fabric seat connected adjacent an end of the back portion of said member, means removably connecting said fabric seat to said seat-supporting bars, and means interengaging said pivoted legs and the leg portion of said member to form a substantially rigid tripod comprising said pivoted legs and the leg portion of said member.

7. A folding chair comprising a hinge block, a pair of legs pivotally connected to said hinge block, a pair of seat-supporting bars pivotally connected to said hinge block, means upon said hinge block and upon said legs and bars for limiting the divergent swing of said legs and bars relative to said hinge block, a member having a back portion and a leg portion, a pair of hinge plates pivotally secured to said member, means pivotally connecting said hinge plates to said hinge block, housing pieces hingedly connected to the back portion of said member, a

flexible fabric seat connected to said housing pieces, said housing pieces being swingable together to form a housing closed for said fabric seat, means removably connecting said fabric seat to said seat-supporting bars, and means interengaging said pivoted legs and the leg portion of said member to form a substantially rigid tripod comprising said pivoted legs and the leg portion of said member.

8. A folding chair comprising a hinge block, a pair of legs pivotally connected to said hinge block, a pair of seat-supporting bars pivotally connected to said hinge block, said legs and bars being swingable in a common plane, means upon said hinge block and upon said legs and bars for limiting the divergent swing of said legs and bars relative to said hinge block, a member having a back portion and a leg portion, a pair of hinge plates pivotally secured to said member, means pivotally connecting said hinge plates to said hinge block, said hinge plates permitting swingable movement of said member in a plane at right angles to said first-mentioned plane,

I when said legs and bars are swingable into parallel laterally contacting relationship with said member, a flexible fabric seat connected adjacent an end of the back portion of said member, means removably connecting said fabric seat to said seat-supporting bars, and means interengaging said pivoted legs and the leg portion of said member to form a substantially rigid tripod comprising said pivoted legs and the leg portion of said member.

9. A folding chair comprising a hinge block, a pair of legs pivotally connected to said hinge block, a pair of seat-supporting bars pivotally connected to said hinge block, said legs and bars being swingable in a common plane, means upon said hinge block and upon said legs and bars for limiting the divergent swing of said legs and bars relative to said hinge block, a member having a back portion and a leg portion, a pair of hinge plates pivotally secured to said member, means pivotally connecting said hinge plates to said hinge block, said hinge plates permitting swingable movement of said member in a plane at right angles to said first-mentioned plane, when said legs and bars are swingable into parallel laterally contacting relationship with said member a flexible fabric seat adjacent an end of the back portion of said member, means removably connecting said fabric seat to said seatsupporting bars, and means interengaging said pivoted legs and the leg portion of said member to form a substantially rigid tripod comprising said pivoted legs and the leg portion of said member, and housing pieces hinged to said member at the back portion thereof to form a housing when swung together for said seat-supporting bars and said fabric seat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 582,136 Comfort May 4, 1897 1,939,743 Warner Dec. 19, 1933 2,587,543 Smith Feb. 26, 1952 

